Multivariate analysis of data from two nationally representative
surveys of adult men and women indicates that the likelihood of a
self-reported sexually transmitted disease (STD) infection varies by
gender, race and socioeconomic status, even after accounting for
differences in sexual and health care behaviors. Women and black
respondents are more than three times as likely to report an STD infection
as men and white respondents; men and women with 12 or fewer years of
education are about 30% less likely than those with more schooling to
report having had an STD. Income, welfare status and access to health care
have no significant association with self-reported STD incidence, but
sexual behavior is strongly related. Men and women who have engaged in
anal intercourse, have paid for sex or have had one-night stands are
significantly more likely than those who avoid these behaviors to report
an STD. Further, the likelihood of an STD dramatically increases with the
lifetime number of sex partners reported: Compared with men and women who
have had only one partner, those who report 2-3 partners are five
times as likely to have had an STD; the odds are as high as 31:1 for those
who report 16 or more partners.